Union County courier. [volume] (Elk Point, Union County, D.T. [S.D.]) 187?-1913, 1887-07-20
JAKESHARP SENTENCED
The Purchaser Of New York Alder
men Condemned to Pun.
ighmsnt.
Doomed to Four Years Imprisonment
and Required to Pay Fine
Of 5000.

jacob Sharp, chief Of the New York
1boodlers, has been sentenced to Sing Sing
for term Of four years with hard labor,
and a fine Of $1,000 was imposed upon him.
The clock was indicating almost noon
when Sharp was almost carried into the
court room. His suffering wife and SON. in
law were close behind him, and deep lines
OF WEAKNESS and sorrow overspread
their faces as they seated themselves
beside the convicted man and famed his
iyid face wilAgnt b,ipging anything ike =
with clasped hands anu bowed head at the
foot of the table, facing the bench. His
face, almos. buried in his chest, was
flushed and sickly looking under the riv-
eted gaze of all present, who were silently
staring at the convicted railroad king.
Mrs. Sharp and the rest of the family,
like the prisoner himself, were silent.
There was applause in the courtroom
when Judge Barrett delivered the sentence,
and outside the announcement was greet
ed with cheers.
Sharp's lawyer moved for q new trial,
but it was denied. The Court, in pro-
nouncing sentence, said the task he had TO
perform was the most delicate in his whole
letters from many people, pleading
for mercy for Sharp. But q court
was not appointed to be merciful
any more than was dictated by the
laws of justice. "A Judge is appointed to
award penalty according to the offense,
when all the circumstances connected with
the commission Of the ofense have been
duly weighed and considered. The de-
fendant herein asking for mercy can give
nothing as plea for ciemency but age and
sickness. On the merits of the case he
certainly is entitled to none. 1t is absurd
to state that he was not guilty of giving the
bribes, as he was unmistakably the leader
of the whole affair. There is not here, as
in the case of the aldermen, any attempt to
prove the defendants good character. The
crime itself was an enormous one-the
raising of $500, 900 to corrupt half legis-
lature."
Judge Barrett reviewed the corrupt ac-
ton Of the defendant in forming bogus
company to contract with the Seventh Av-
enue Railway, of which he is director,
and alluded to the defendants receiving
81 100000 of profit as sheer larceny, for
which he could have been indicted Just rs
we'll as for bribery. The Judge continued:
"What is there to excite pity or mercy
except the age and ill-health OF the pris-
oner and the mourning condition Of his
family? With over 81 ,0Oo,0 in his pocket
he clamors for mercy without offering to
pay back a penny of the money stolen, SO
that, should he die in prison. his family
has vast fortune to fall back upon."
At this Mrs. Sharp buried her face in
her handkerchief and wept silently, while
the prisoner himself did not lift his face
from the table.
"The Legislature does not allow us to 60
below the minimum penalty in such a grave
offense as the present is, continued Judge
Barrett. "All cannot be satisfied; those
who clamor for the prisoners receiving the
full penalty OF the inwann those calling for
a reprimand. All things have been consid-
cred, and the judgment Of this court is that
the prisoner be confined four years at hard
labor and that he pay fine of $5,G00."
Sharp was sent back to spend the night
in Ludlow Street Jail. Application was
made to Judge Potter, of the Supreme
Court, for stay of proceedings.